Electric cluster-lamp.



T. ODONNELL.

ELECTRIC CLUSTER LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 30. I914.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

T. ODONNELL.

ELECTRIC CLUSTER LAMP. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30. 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WMWMM-o Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

THOMAS ODONNELL, OF IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC CLUSTER-LAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

Application filed September 30, 1914. Serial No. 864,287.

To'all whom it may concern Be it-known that I, THOMAS ODoNNnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ironwood, in the county of Gogebic and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Cluster- Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in cluster electric filament lamps.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cluster lamp of the above mentioned character, embodying a plurality of bulbs having a common neck, whereby the socket terminals and lead-in wires ordinarily employed in connection with a single bulb, may be used for supplying current to the filaments in the several bulbs, thus effecting a substantial economy in the manufacture of the lamp.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cluster lamp of the above mentioned character, which is attractive in appearance and convenient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cluster lamp embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the filament support or carrier removed, Fig. 4 is an inner side elevation of one bulb prior to its connection with the other bulbs, Fig. 5 is a plan view of a plurality of bulbs, showing the manner in which they are assembled, and, Fig. 6 is an enlarged central longitudinal sectional view through the common tubular neck and associated elements.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates electric lamp bulbs which are formed of glass and may be made or blown in any well known or preferred manner. I have shown the cluster lamp as embodying three of these bulbs of substantially the same size and arranged eXteriorly of each other, while it is to be understood that any suitable number over one may be employed.

The upper ends of the bulbs 10 are pro vided with tapering or reduced neck-sections 11, having inclined side openings 12, and

adapted when assembled to form a common tubular neck. The adjacent edges of the neck-sections are secured together, preferably by fusing, forming air-tight unions, whereby the tubular neck is in effect integral. This tubular neck receives thereon an outer preferably screw-threaded metallic sleeveterminal 11, as shown.

A' filament support or carrier 12 is arranged within the tubular neck, and has downwardly diverging arms or branches 13 extending into the different bulbs, with filaments 14 strung thereon, as shown.

The numeral 16 designates an inner tube, formed of glass and provided near its upper end with an outwardly extending annular flange 17. This tube is provided in its lower closed end with apertures, to receive lead-in wires 18 and 19, which are in electrical connection with the filaments. For the purpose of illustration I have shown these lead-in wires connected, in parallel, with the filaments, but it is obvious that the same may be connected in series therewith. The lead-in wire 18 is connected with an end metallic terminal 20 while the wire 19 is connected with the sleeve-terminal 11 for engagement with the corresponding terminals of a statlonary supporting socket, as is well known.

In the manufacture of the cluster lamp,

the filament carrier 12 has its arms or branches inserted within a corresponding number of bulbs 10, being held in a suitable position to be assembled, the filament carrier being also held in place by any suitable means. The edges of the neck-sections 11 are now brought together and subjected to the action of a flame or other suitable heat ing means whereby the same are fused together, forming in effect a reduced tubular neck which is integral. The inner tube is rigidly connected with and carried by the upper end of the filament carrier, with the lead-in wires suitably electrically connected with the filaments. The flange 17 of the inner tube 16 is fused to the upper end of the tubular neck, thus forming an air-tight joint. The end terminal 20 is connected with and insulated from the tubular neck, having the sleeve terminal 11 surrounding the same. The lead-in wires are suitably connected with the terminals. A suitable vacuum is made and maintained within the bulbs, in the usual manner employed in making the ordinary single bulb electric light. I also contemplate making the bulbs and common neck by blowing the same in one operation providing an integral structure. 1

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is .to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim An electric lamp, comprising a common neck having a plurality of outwardly diverging bulbs, a filament support embody- 15 ing outwardly diverging arms arranged Within the bulbs, filaments strung upon their arms, and means carried by the neck to supply current to the filaments.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS ODONNELL.

Witnesses ARTHUR L. BRYANT, lVYNNE JOHNSON. 

